2016 Slovenia - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Digital Media - Statistics and Analyses

Slovenian regulator preps for additional spectrum release in 2017

Slovenia’s fixed-line telecom market is dominated by Telekom Slovenije. The company has suffered from declining revenue since 2009, and so in a bid to diversify business interests and lessen the reliance pure telecom services the company is looking to expand into the electricity and insurance sectors, capitalising o its extensive customer base. In response to competition the telco has also followed the path of many European incumbents and developed an international presence, focused predominantly on the Balkans region where it is becoming a regional provider of IT and multimedia services.

In the overall telecom market, regulatory intervention has improved market conditions for competitors. LLU fees, based on regulated pricing models, continue to trend downwards but despite this there has been a steady reduction in the number of unbundled local loop connections.

Slovenia’s competitive mobile market has four mobile network operators and a small number of mobile virtual network operators, operating in a country with a potential market of only two million people. With high mobile penetration, telcos have branched into offering both mobile and fixed-line services so as to offer bundled products This strategy saw the cableco Telemach acquire Tušmobil and Si.mobil merge with Amis Telekom.

The regulator has addressed the need of mobile operators for more spectrum, providing additional concessions in 2013 and holding a significant multi-spectrum auction in 2014. An auction for left-over spectrum in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands was held in late 2016, with Telemach securing all three blocks on offer. Another auction for fixed-wireless broadband services using spectrum in the 3.5GHz, 10GHz and 12GHz bands is expected to be held in 2017.

Slovenia’s broadband market continues to be dominated by a small number of players, including the incumbent telco Telekom Slovenije, Telemach and T-2. Some market changes may develop in 2017 as a result of T-2 being forced to return to bankruptcy. Despite the launch of competing platforms, DSL remains the most popular access method though its market share is being eroded by the steady development of fibre-based networks, as well as by upgraded cable networks which offer data rates of up to 220Mb/s. The deployment of DOCSIS3.1 technology expected by cablcos from about 2018 will provide data rates of at least 1Gb/s, and so enable the operators to improve the delivery of bundled services.

This report offers a variety of insightful statistics and a concise overview of Slovenia’s fixed-line telecoms market, covering the major players, regulatory measures and developments in fixed-line infrastructure. The report also covers the fixed-line broadband market, including subscription forecasts to 2021, as well as an overview of the digital media sector, highlighting major players and industry developments. In addition the report offers insights and statistics on the mobile market, including updates on operators, regulatory measures relating to roaming, tariffs and spectrum, and developments in LTE and other technologies.

Key developments:

• Si.mobil merged with Amis Telekom;
• T-2 forced back into bankruptcy by creditors;
• Telekom Slovenije planning to enter the electricity and insurance markets;
• Sharp rise in VoIP connections as PSTN declines;
• Telemach secures remaining spectrum in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands;
• MVNO IZI Mobil begins offering LTE services;
• Regulator opens consultation into auction of spectrum in the 3.5GHz, 10GHz and 12GHz bands; Telekom Slovenije acquires the MVNO Debitel;
• Telemach acquires Tušmobil and the ISP Maxtel;
• Government broadband program targets extending FttP to 90% of the population by 2020;
• Report update includes the regulator’s market report to June 2016, State Statistical data to Q2 2016, telcos’ operating and financial data to Q3 2016; recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Telekom Slovenije, Amis Telekom, T-2, Si.mobil, Mobitel, Tušmobil, Telemach, T-2, Debitel, Serbia Broadband, Tuštelekom.